BOSTON, Mass. – Paced by a double-double from sophomore Claire Quick (Mission Viejo, Calif.) the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's volleyball team ran its win streak to eight matches to open the season as the Leopards defeated Lasell, 3-0, in non-conference action at Tansey Gymnasium.
Wentworth improves to 8-0 on the season while the Lasers fall to 3-5.
The first set was a back-and-forth battle as the Leopards claimed four of the first five points of the match on a kill each from Quick and classmate Leah Rogoz (Woodridge, Ill.) and a solo block and a kill from sophomore Samantha Lassiter (Rogers, Ark). The Lasers kept chipping away in the first set, getting within two points at 19-17, when Wentworth called a timeout. Out of the time out, the Leopards were able to close out the first set, 25-18, taking five of the final six points, aided by a pair of kills by Rogoz.
Wentworth cruised in the second set, taking a 2-0 lead with a 25-11 win as the Leopards forced the Lasers to hit -.128 in the frame. The Leopards took the first four points on a pair of kills from Quick, a kill from senior Katelyn Carlson (Stratford, Conn.), and a Lasell attack error. After committing an error which put the visitors on the board, the Leopards got a fast side out and went on an 8-1 run with kills from Lassiter and Carlson and three Laser errors helping to extend the lead. Wentworth extended its lead to 19-7 and ended the set on a junior Lillie Clark (Vista, Calif.) ace.
Looking to extend the match, the Lasers took a 23-17 lead in the third set, however, Wentworth came storming back with a 6-0 run to tie the set at 23-all after Lasell committed a ball handling error. A service error gave the Lasers set point at 24-23, however an attack error knotted the set at 24-all. Lasell staved off match point three times, including at 28-27 and scored two straight points to take a 29-28 lead. An attack error tied the set for the final time at 29-all and Carlson and Lassiter teamed up for back-to-back blocks to give the Leopards a 31-29 edge in the set to claim the match.
Quick had 11 kills and 11 digs in the match while Rogoz had nine kills and 13 digs. Lassiter finished with four kills and five blocks while Carlson had four kills and a pair of blocks. Freshman Makenna Salsbury went 3-0-5 to hit .600 on the match and classmate Kayla Chen (Irvine, Calif.) had 22 assists. Sophomore Maddy Tomastik (Portland, Ore.) had 18 digs.
The Lasers were paced by senior Michele Canestro (Castleton, N.Y.) who chipped in with nine kills, and eight digs. Senior Caitlyn Garcia (Moreno Valley, Calif) had 22 digs, while Taylor Tiezzi (Meriden, Conn) contributed 20 assists.
Wentworth hosts Newbury on Thursday night.
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